Fires and incidents involving biological risks - PN 098 (v1) Flashcards
Fires and incidents involving biological risks - PN 098
‘Biological agent’.
A biological agent as defined in Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) as ‘WHAT?’
‘a micro-organism, cell culture, or human endoparasite, whether or not genetically modified, which may cause infection, allergy, toxicity or otherwise create a hazard to human health’
Fires and incidents involving biological risks - PN 098
‘Biological hazard’.
A biological hazard, also known as a biohazard, is ‘WHAT’?
‘an organism or a by-product from an organism that is harmful or potentially harmful to other living things, primarily human beings.’
Fires and incidents involving biological risks - PN 098
Common types of biological hazards include…(5)
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These hazards are found where…?
- bacteria
- viruses
- fungi
- spores
- protozoa or medical waste and the toxins they produce.
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These hazards are widespread in the natural environment and can be found in water, soil, plants, and animals.
Fires and incidents involving biological risks - PN 098
‘Biological risk’.
What is meant by the term biological risk?
A biological risk is the risk associated with a biological hazard.
Risks to exposure to biological hazards range from relatively mild, allergic reactions to serious infection, medical conditions or even death.
Fires and incidents involving biological risks - PN 098
It is reasonably safe to assume that every incident attended may have a degree of risk associated with biological hazards.
What special arrangements are necessary to protect us and our crews against biological hazards?
No special arrangemnehts other than the standard use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and good hygiene arrangements.
Fires and incidents involving biological risks - PN 098
It should however be recognised that certain incidents will carry a higher level of biological risk. It is impossible to give a definitive list of incidents with a higher risk.
However, list 9 incident types that will give incident commanders (IC) an indication of the nature of incidents which should be considered:
- Polluted water incidents, drainage ditches, stagnant water.
- Sewerage – drains, waste water treatment facilities, floodwaters (drains become over-filled).
- Rubbish – fly tipping, rubbish dumps, waste management centres.
- Incidents at medical facilities, such as hospitals, isolations ward, post-mortem areas, laboratories.
- Incidents at research facilities, such as universities, medical establishments/schools, laboratories.
- Incidents at funeral directors.
- Incidents at animal facilities i.e. veterinary clinics, quarantine areas, abattoirs, farms, zoos, kennels/catteries.
- Casualty handling – road traffic collisions (RTCs), casualties in fires, incidents where body fluids may be encountered.
- Terrorist or criminal activity.
Fires and incidents involving biological risks - PN 098
What are used to identify that biological hazards are being stored on the property or, in the case of the shipping placard, transported on the vehicle.
A yellow triangular sign with biological hazard symbol or the UN class 6 (toxic or infectious substances) diamond shipping placard with biological hazard symbol:
Fires and incidents involving biological risks - PN 098
Biological hazards can be grouped into four different classes. Name them.
- Bacteria – (e.g. Escherichia coli (E.coli), Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB), Salmonella, Legionella).
- Viruses – (e.g. hepatitis B, C, HIV).
- Protozoa – (e.g. ringworm, malaria).
- Fungi and spores – (e.g. Aspergillus).
Fires and incidents involving biological risks - PN 098
In addition to the 4 classes of Biological hazard, the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) advise the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and have developed a table showing the four hazard groups based on the ability of the material to infect a healthy adult human and the containment category.
Describe the groups and the likelihood to cause human disease as are shown in the table.
Hazard Group
Pathogen
1
Unlikely to cause human disease
2
Can cause human disease and may be a hazard to employees; it is unlikely to spread to the community and there is usually effective prophylaxis or treatment available. Examples: E.Coli 157 and Staphylococcus aureus (including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
3
Can cause severe human disease and may be a serious hazard to employees; it may spread to the community but there is usually effective prophylaxis or treatment available. Examples: hepatitis B and rabies
4
Causes severe human disease and is a serious hazard to employees; it is likely to spread to the community and there is usually no effective prophylaxis or treatment available. Examples: Ebola, smallpox and Lassa fever.
Fires and incidents involving biological risks - PN 098
Strict adherence to operational procedures is essential to guard against these materials and deviation should only be permitted when?
On the advice of the hazardous materials environmental protection officer (HMEPO) or scientific adviser (SA) - often in consultation with onsite specialists.
Fires and incidents involving biological risks - PN 098
In addition to the biological hazard itself, crews should also be aware that there are additional risks with establishments where these materials are stored or used. These can include which 9 things?
- High security arrangements, including electronic locking mechanisms.
- Negative pressure systems where hazard group 3 & 4 pathogens are contained.
- Uninterrupted power supplies – particularly to laboratory equipment.
- Regular programme of disinfection over 12 hour periods using gaseous formaldehyde.
- Animals - for research purposes.
- Sharp equipment (i.e. scalpel blades, hypodermic needles etc.) used in treatment and examinations – These will normally be stored in a “sharps” box once used – these are yellow in colour and designed to be sealed once full to prevent accidental spills).
- Cylinders of various gases (e.g. oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, helium) (Policy number 376 - Cylinder procedure applies).
- Wide range of chemicals (Policy number 796 - Incidents involving hazardous substances applies).
- Radiation sources (Policy number 602 - Incidents involving ionising radiation applies).
Fires and incidents involving biological risks - PN 098
There is a recognised colour coding system for clinical waste containers as published by the Health and Safety commission.
Clinical waste containers can should be identified by their bright colour (normally yellow) and the presence of the biological hazard symbol.
Explain the coding system per the table, that assists in the identification of waste material and might aid an IC in deciding what, if any, level of protection would be appropriate.
Colour of Bag
Type of waste
Black
Normal household waste. Not to be used to store or transport clinical waste.
Yellow
All waste destined for incineration.
Yellow with a black band
Waste which preferably should be disposed of by incineration but may be disposed of by landfill when separate disposal arrangements are made. (e.g. home nursing waste)
Light blue or transparent with light blue inscriptions
Waste for autoclaving (or equivalent) before ultimate disposal.
Fires and incidents involving biological risks - PN 098
The following colours are used widely in the NHS for linen containers:
- Red (or white with a red band) – for what?
- White (or clear plastic) – for what?
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How are sharps contained for disposal?
- Red = foul or infected linen.
- White (or clear plastic) = soiled linen.
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Items such as syringes and scalpels will be placed into a suitable ‘sharps’ container before being ‘bagged up’.
Fires and incidents involving biological risks - PN 098
The following colours are used widely in the NHS for linen containers:
- Red (or white with a red band) – for what?
- White (or clear plastic) – for what?
- Red = foul or infected linen.
- White (or clear plastic) = soiled linen.
